LAKE GENEVA — Frequent guests to Lake Geneva’s Oakfire PIzza are no doubt familiar with Shane, a longtime member of the wait staff who is deaf.

But for a recent guest who herself is partially deaf, Shane made a birthday meal particularly memorable, which is now being shared in a viral video.

(Scroll down to watch the video)

In a post shared Thursday by Oakfire on its social media channels, a video taken in early November by Lake Geneva photographer Ashley Durham Photography documents the special moment.

Shane was the server that evening, and it “was the best birthday gift I could have gotten,” Ashley wrote in the video.

It turns out her daughter, Sierra, is partially deaf and has been learning sign language since third grade.

Because Shane was the waiter, Sierra was able to have a full conversation with him using sign language.

“It made me feel really proud,” Ashley wrote. The original post has been liked nearly 60,000 times on Instagram.

Watch the emotional video HERE on Instagram or below.

“Oakfire is proud to support a diverse team, each member bringing their own unique set of skills and talents to our Oakfire family,” wrote Oakfire in its post. “Thanks Ashley, Sierra, and Shane for this incredible memory!”



Paid partnership with Santana Collectibles.



Paid partnership with Hafs Road Orchard.

By Dan Plutchak

Dan Plutchak launched Walworth County Community News in 2021. He is the former editor of The Week and Walworth County Sunday.